Ontario 08/05/13 cbc.ca: A 42-year-old Thunder Bay, Ont., man has his schnauzer to thank after surviving a black bear attack at a provincial park in northwestern Ontario. The man, who has been released from hospital, was attacked Saturday afternoon by a mature black bear while he was camping at Sand Bar Provincial Park. The dog died following the ordeal. Ontario Provincial Police in Ignace said the man was on a walk with his two dogs and taking a break near the water when he was attacked from behind by the bear. The man got away by running into the water, where he waited until the bear eventually went away. He later attempted to walk back to his camp site, but the bear came back and attacked him again, police said. One of the dogs, a schnauzer, attempted to fend off the bear, allowing the man to get away. He ran to the park ranger station, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and transported to Dryden Regional Health Centre.

Connecticut 08/05/13 online.wsj.com: Warm water in Long Island Sound is being blamed for naturally occurring bacteria that sickened at least five people who ate oysters, clams and other shellfish from shallow areas near Norwalk and Westport. State agriculture officials on Monday announced a first-ever recall of shellfish and the shutting of most shellfish harvest locations due to naturally occurring bacteria. The agency has acted before due to pollution from storm water runoff or similar reasons. David Carey, director of the agency’s Bureau of Aquaculture, said the extreme heat in mid-July is partly to blame for the warm water in shallow areas of the Sound. The state shut shellfish harvesting areas in Norwalk and Westport until September, when the water is expected to cool down. Areas outside the nearby Long Island Sound islands that are deeper than 20 feet remain open because water at that depth is cooler than in shallow areas. Shellfish beds in southeastern Connecticut also are not affected because the Long Island Sound there is cooler due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and potentially swifter current. Shellfish affected by the recall include hard clams and oysters harvested between July 3 and Friday. If ingested, the bacteria known as Vibrioparahaemolyticus can cause acute stomach illness. – See http://online.wsj.com/article/AP187c3ca6150a467e8151ead1e135a160.html

California 08/05/13 Riverside County: Health officials announced on Monday that mosquitoes trapped in Palm Springs have tested positive for WNV for the first time this year. The mosquitoes were trapped near East Vista Chino and North Palm Canyon Drive, according to the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District Mosquitoes from 11 other traps on the north and middle shores of the Salton Sea also tested positive, raising this year’s total of positive mosquito samples in the Coachella Valley to 14. – See http://palmdesert.patch.com/groups/health/p/west-nile-virus-detected-in-ps-mosquitoes

California 08/05/13 Los Angeles County: Health officials announced on Monday that the Madrona Marsh Preserve in Torrance was closed because of concerns about mosquitoes that have tested positive for WNV. This season, the South Bay has been a hot spot for West Nile virus activity, with numerous dead crows in Rolling HillsEstates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Torrance and Redondo Beach, among other cities, testing positive for the virus. – See http://palosverdes.patch.com/groups/health/p/west-nile-virus-concerns-force-madrona-marsh-closure

Connecticut 08/05/13 CT Department of Public Health: The State Mosquito Management Program today announced mosquitoes testing positive for WNV have been identified in twelve towns so far this season. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station trapped the positive mosquitoes in Bridgeport, East Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Manchester, New Haven, Norwalk, Plainfield, Stamford, Stratford, and Westport. – See https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?hl=en&shva=1#inbox/1405521becaacf2f

NorthDakota 08/06/13 ND Department of Health: State officials have confirmed the first human case of WNV so far this year in Grand ForksCounty. Cass, Grant, Stutsman, and Richland (2) counties have also reported human cases of WNV this year. – See http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/270139/

Virginia 08/05/13 Suffolk: Public works officials have confirmed that mosquitoes trapped in the city have tested positive for both EEE and WNV. Mosquitoes that tested positive for EEE were found in the Lake Kennedy, SuburbanWoods, Regency Estates, Wonderland Forest, Rivercliff, Arbor Meadows, Dayle Acres, Pughsville, Bennett’s Harbor, Kilby Shores, Kempton Park, Pitchkettle Point, PrinceviewPoint, and Olde Mill Creek neighborhoods. Officials also found infected mosquitoes in neighborhoods around Lamb Avenue, Hosier Road, ClayHillRoad, Leesville, and Whaleyville, according to the release. Officials also found mosquitoes that tested positive for the WNV in the Lake Kennedy neighborhood. – See http://www.dailypress.com/news/southside/dp-suffolk-mosquitoes-0805,0,5811213.story

Florida 08/05/13 Lafayette County: The Department of Health is requesting residents’ assistance in locating people who may have been exposed to one of sixpotentiallyrabidbaby skunks, known to be in the county during the last few months. Two of the baby skunks recently died, with one testing positive for rabies. The remaining four baby skunks are still unaccounted for. “It’s very important we locate people who may have acquired these baby skunks, so they can receive the appropriate treatment if they may have been exposed to rabies,” said Pamela Blackmon, Administrator, Florida Department of Health in Lafayette County. Contact Michael Mitchell or Cindy Morgan at the Florida Department of Health in Lafayette County at 386-294-1321 or 386-362-2708 if you may have been exposed. For more information, visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/rabies/rabies-index.html. – See more at: http://suwanneedemocrat.com/mayo/x738618446/Health-officials-in-Lafayette-County-issue-rabies-alert#sthash.De3Bk71M.dpuf

Jerry Genesio

Author of "UNSEEN HAZARDS That Threaten Hunters, Campers, and Hikers: What you should know about pathogens commonly found in wildlife."

This is where wildlife and healthcare professionals, hunters, campers, hikers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will find interesting information about natural unseen hazards that place them at risk. As my book focused exclusively on Rabies, Tetanus (Lockjaw), Tularemia (Rabbit Fever), Brucellosis (Undulant Fever), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Borrelia (Lyme Disease), posts regarding these six diseases will be limited to more recent developments and items of interest that were not included or were not available when the book was published in June of 2009. Topics will also include Chronic Wasting Disease, West Nile Virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and other diseases of particular interest to those who work and play in the great American outdoors.

Don’t Be Afraid – Be Aware!

The Natural Unseen Hazards blog is available to all free of charge and is maintained as a public service.

If you have questions related to pathogens commonly found in wildlife, e.g. the disease caused by a specific pathogen, hosts, vectors, symptoms, treatment, territorial range, etc., please comment here or e-mail to jerrygenesio@gmail.com and I will attempt to provide answers.

"Chance favors the prepared mind."
Louis Pasteur

Unless otherwise noted, images have been provided by the CDC Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, the National Park Service or other government agencies, Bing.com, and/or Google.com.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Marie Curie

"It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret."
Jackie Joyner Kersee